§ 43 and 44. Sir W. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when was the last time a request was made by his Department for Russian pre-1939 claims to be registered; and if he will now prepare a more up-to-date list together with a request for banks holding Russian assets in the United Kingdom so to inform Her Majesty's Government and to state the amounts;
(2) whether he has yet informed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics that he wishes to discuss the question of Tsarist and other pre-1939 debts; what reply he has received; and how he intends to deal with the matter.
§ Mr. William WhitlockAs the hon. Gentleman knows, we have informed the Soviet Government of our readiness to discuss the question of pre-1939 claims. No reply has yet been received. A register of private claims against the Soviet Government was opened by the Foreign Office and the Board of Trade in September, 1918, and is still open to amendment. I think we should see what the Soviet Government have to say on the subject before considering further action.
§ Sir W. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the number of issues of Czarist Bonds which are held jointly by British, French and other nations and their subjects, he will consider approaching these countries with a view to a joint approach to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as regards compensation or payment of these debts.
§ Mr. WhitlockI would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him earlier today.—[Nos. 43 and 44.]